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Special information below!



Generally speaking, Sci-Fi Channel original movies border the absurd with simple/cliche plots, terrible graphics and over-acting. Their $1-2 million budget only goes so far. Which makes me wonder: What percentage does the writing staff earn, and how might that translate into creative effort? Seems like several people just sit around, throw darts at mythological creature composites, choose random adjectives, isolate locations and recycle stereotypes. Easy, right?

Well, here is YOUR chance! Embrace the outrageous with Subtle Absurdities.
Pen something similiar to--if not better than--what Sci-Fi deems worthy of film.




THE RULES:

Must fall within the Horror/Science Fiction genre, but remember your subtle satire; covert campy is a requirement. Some Fantasy elements are also permitted. (If you feel uncertain about something, I encourage you to ask questions before truly running with the idea. Better safe.)

Prose must have at least 100 words, but no more than 5000. Poetry should not exceed 100 lines; both Open and Fixed are acceptable.

Must be NEW literature (dated from today, Oct. 18th). Note me your link/URL/thumb under the title of either "entry" or "submission." And please mention the contest itself within your personal commentary. Pimpin' ain't easy.

Participants CANNOT write a sequel to an existing Sci-Fi script, nor use established characters. Similarities will be taken under quick review and considered innocent until proven otherwise; any obvious duplication warrants you an automatic DQ.

You CAN enter NaNoWriMo work IF it first meets all of the above qualifications.

NOW OPEN!
Deadline: unspecified

With an overwhelming number of NaNo participants and barely any contest publicity thus far, I've extended the deadline until January 1st, 2010. Survivors, tell yer horrid tale; poets, consider this early practice for NaPo.


BASIC CRITERIA:

Both prose and poetry will be judged together. What is expected:

Commitment; stay on topic.
Originality.
Proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Solid imagery. Ask yourself: "Can I really see this on broadcast television?"
Mature Content filter as necessary. Be respectful.


JUDGES and PRIZES:

Myself and *Shards-of-Shame are your ringmasters.

Winners will be announced the first week of January. But for now, we would greatly appreciate additional volunteer donations for 1st, 2nd and 3rd (e.g., subscriptions, journal features and/or in-depth critiques). If you are interested, please Note.

<sub>1st Place -
3 month sub from ^LadyLincoln
3 month sub from `SRSmith
3 month sub and journal feature from *Shards-of-Shame
Journal feature from *ColdContactKiss
Journal feature and critique from *KneelingGlory
Journal feature and critique from =Only-L
Journal feature and critique from =MimozaBlooming
Journal feature and personalized pencil portrait from ~Jaala
Journal feature from ~silverwingsoffire
Journal feature from *YouInventedMe
Journal feature from *IrrevocableFate

2nd Place -
2 month sub and journal feature from *Shards-of-Shame
2 month sub and journal feature from ~silverwingsoffire
Journal feature from *ColdContactKiss
Journal feature and critique from *KneelingGlory
Journal feature and critique from =Only-L
Journal feature and critique from =MimozaBlooming
Journal feature and pencil portrait from ~Jaala
Journal feature from *YouInventedMe
Journal feature from *IrrevocableFate

3rd Place -
1 month sub and journal feature from *Shards-of-Shame
1 month sub and journal feature from ~silverwingsoffire
Journal feature from *ColdContactKiss
Journal feature and critique from *KneelingGlory
Journal feature and critique from =Only-L
Journal feature and critique from =MimozaBlooming
Journal feature and pencil portrait from ~Jaala
Journal feature from *YouInventedMe
Journal feature from *IrrevocableFate

*simgreensoul will also feature ALL winners in a follow-up News article!

'Honorable Mention' has been eliminated.</sub>


MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL:

This contest is, sadly, unaffiliated with Sci-Fi Channel. Use of its former spelling [in context] should be legal. I have supplied an alphabetical list of current movie titles for referrence only. You can find the same results anywhere.

I realize the topic "Subtle Absurdities" may be slightly confusing if you rarely/never watch Sci-Fi Channel (originals) or worship every horror movie ever made. So, along with the titles previously mentioned, I suggest reading this for inspiration. Be prepared for vampiric, alien (Latin-speaking; hand-puppeteered) worms AND imaginary tantric lesbian sex. Oh! Did I just give it away? Darn. :]

If a long movie synopsis isn't your thing, check out these trailers:

Piñata: Survival Island
- A personal favorite. You'll need more than a stick for this one.

The Gingerdead Man
- Voiced by Gary Busey, he sure ain't the Pillsbury fuckin' Doughboy.

And just when you thought it was safe to open the cakebox: Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust. ("Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver" in production!)

A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell
- Way back, beyond the future, in a land before time began, the day after has become the day before. The prehistoric and the prepubescent...together at last!

Splinter
- Always keep a box-cutter...handy. Highly contagious, rabid urchin-like virus that totally contradicts everything you ever learned in science class. Nominated for best 'gross-out' scene at the 2009 Scream Awards.

Infestation
- An entomologist's worst nightmare. Trust me.

The Pig People
- Swine Flu, anyone?

Red Sands
- What REALLY happened in Afghanistan.






Don't forget the All About Life contest hosted by *Shards-of-Shame!
Open now; deadline: January 1, 2010.

_{Judges include...
Poetry: *ColdContactKiss
Non-Fiction: *kamcalste
Fiction: `jade-pandora
Flash-Fic: `SRSmith}

Winners from my category and overall best get featured here. :]



Now, as promised, here are the October Saijiki Contest winners!

First place: ~mreid973 with scarecrows - "An effortless, modern metaphor for mortal bareness, this haiga shines a spotlight on human nature."

Second place tie between myself with autumn wind - "This entry combines the senryu and haiku forms with a wry wit, mocking a modern season marker (daylight savings) with an innocent observation about the weather."

and *Djoseph with autumn drizzle - "I like that the first two lines (combined with the Autumn in its title) mislead the reader into thinking it's about falling leaves, and then reveals it's rain falling through trees. The alternate reading that people are taking cover from the drizzle, under a tree, is also a cute image."

Third place: ~Aqua-rat with autumn wind - "With the world closing down for the year in the northern hemisphere Autumn can be a gloomy time. But true beauty is there to be found even in these circumstances. The dancing larches are all the more joyful because of the grey day."

Honorable Mentions:

~lucidflux with autumn waters - "This prose is as crisp and clear as the icy waters it ends in. Autumn holds unique joys that are well represented here with a playful flair."

*mcdermid with burning leaves - "On a chilly day the smell of burning leaves offers a special comfort. The choice of "sigh" is lovely because it steps around the more obvious words one might use to describe a fleeting scent. With daylight dwindling the sigh also seems to represent the world downshifting from the energy of warmer months and settling in for the winter."

~ShinamoriWing with winter mist - "This work paints soft and beautiful imagery with syntax that carries very well from Japanese to English."

Special thanks to `Iscariot-Priest and *saiun for both judging with me and providing prizes. Thanks also to *Lit-Twitter and *mcdermid for additional prize support.